Everyone has a favourite. Our goal with this chart is to outline the key distinctions among the 10 most popular ships for UK passengers -- accounting for more than 22,000 berths -- in an easily digestible way. The ships' popularity, by the way, is determined by number of pageviews accrued over the past year.

Want more info about Thomson Dream or Independence of the Seas? Click on the vessel name for a comprehensive expert review and hundreds of reader-submitted critiques.

P&O's 3,100-passenger Ventura was the first of the line's large family-friendly ships, debuting in 2008. The aim was to attract families, and make a play for new to cruise, with a host of celebrity tie-ups (Chefs Marco Pierre White, Atul Kocchar and wine expert Olly Smith all feature), lots more space (the ship is 30 percent bigger than its predecessors), plus plenty of family-friendly amenities.

Deployment: Based in Barbados during winter for Caribbean cruises, Italy in summer for the Mediterranean.

Family cabins, two with a second bedroom

Outside cabins have two lower beds that are convertible to a king-size bed with wardrobe and drawer space

Superior Deluxe Balcony cabins and above include an atlas and a pair of binoculars.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages' Marco Polo cruise liner provides bargain-priced cruises sailing from East England where the ship is based. Marco Polo is an adults-only ship that, though far from luxurious, is comfortable and pleasant. And with less than 1,000 passengers, the onboard experience is about as far from the mass-market cruise ships as you can get.

Deployment: Cruises the British Isles, the Baltic and Norway, Christmas Markets cruises to Northern Europe and an annual Transatlantic to the Amazon.

Thomson Dream is the newest, biggest and most luxurious ship in Thomson's fleet of five ships. Thomson took over the vessel from Costa Cruises in April 2010, and the ship underwent a multimillion-pound refit in 2012..

Majesty joined the Thomson line in May 2012 as part of a ship swap. The ship, which debuted in 1992, splits time between the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. The ship underwent a recent refit to add 28 balconies -- until the refit, it had none.

Deployment: Cruises in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.

Standard cabins are assigned by the cruise line -- passengers can pay a fee to upgrade.

The 3,100-passenger Azura is Ventura's younger sister (by two years), and has the same vibe and feel as her older sibling: family friendly, superb dining options, a new adults only area, plus one or two extra features, including SeaScreen, the new outdoor cinema. The ship is also the newest of P&O's fleet.

Deployment: Azura spends the winter in the Caribbean in Barbados; and the summer in Southampton cruising to Northern Europe and the Baltic.

Thomson's Island Escape is the budget brand's budget ship. It attracts a younger-than-average clientele and a high number of first-time cruisers who've booked based on travelling with Thomson on a package holiday. On the whole, the ship has a cheap and cheerful -- and very casual -- personality.

Originally Holland America's Noordam, Thomson Celebration is a smaller ship, whose just over 1,250 passengers usually share a love of traditional British cruises. Launched in 1984, Thomson gave the ship a facelift in 2013 and added 26 balconies to the old dame.

A perennial favourite with UK cruisers, and for years the biggest ship to sail out of the UK, the 3,634-passenger Independence of the Seas arguably brought US-style cruising to these more 'traditional' British shores. Indy, as the ship is known, is the third of Royal's Freedom class ships (the biggest apart from the Oasis Class), with ice skating, rock climbing and simulated surfing on the FlowRider. In April 2013, the ship had a $7 million refurbishment. Indy will be moving on next year to be replaced by a newer, shinier model: Anthem of the Seas, which will be sailing out of Southampton from April 2015.

Deployment: Indy is in Southampton during the summer sailing to the Mediterranean, and Fort Lauderdale during the winter sailing to the Caribbean.

The 2,850-passenger Eclipse is the third of Celebrity's sleek, sophisticated and wildly popular Solstice class of ships. Combining big-ship amenities such as a huge spa and gym, big-production shows and huge variety of superb restaurants, with small ship service and sophistication, Eclipse regularly gets 90 per cent + approval ratings from Cruise Critic members, including top spot for cabins in the UK Cruisers' Choice Awards.

Deployment: Southampton during the summer, offering Baltic and short-break cruises; and Fort Lauderdale during the winter for Caribbean cruises.

121 connecting staterooms and four Family Ocean View Staterooms with verandahs

AquaSpa cabins include spa-oriented cosmetics, gels and bath amenities; upgraded linens and access to an exclusive room service menu.

The 44 Sky Suites have a 79-square-foot verandah accessed through floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors.

Part of Royal Caribbean's Voyager Class of ships, the 3,114-passenger Adventure of the Seas may be showing its age now (the ship debuted in 2001), but still has a number of highlights which keep it firmly in the UK Top 10. These include a rollerblading track, ice-skating rink and rock-climbing wall, and the ship is a popular choice for couples and families, too.